System and method for measuring the quantity, type and transmission quality of mobile communication devices within a defined geographical area

ABSTRACT

A system and method for measuring the quantity, type, transmission quality and visit history of mobile communication devices within a defined geographical area is disclosed herein. A data server is configured to receive new transmission data for mobile devices from each of a plurality of sensor devices and associate the new transmission data with a corresponding sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices. Sensor devices positioned within the venue are utilized to determine a geographical location of a mobile communication device based on a statistical analysis of received signal strength at each of the sensor devices.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The Present Application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/275,790, filed on May 12, 2014, which isa continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/145,740, filed on Dec. 31, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,725,170, issuedon May 13, 2014, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to WiFi transmission data andthe collection of data associated with such transmissions in a specificvenue.

2. Description of the Related Art

The prior art discusses various method of collecting data from WiFitransmissions, especially from mobile communication devices.

One reference is Holmes et al., U.S. Patent Publication Number20130115969 for a System and Method for Cell Phone Targeting andTracking, which discloses a system and method for tracking a pluralityof user cell phones within a defined coverage area.

Another example is Roeding et al., U.S. Patent Publication Number20110029359 for a Method and System for Detecting Presence Using a WI-FINetwork Probe Detector, which discloses a detection system that monitorsWi-Fi wireless communications at a wireless device and detects a proberequest associated with a location.

Yet another example is Houri, U.S. Patent Publication Number 20070126635for a System and Method for Determining Geographic Location of WirelessComputing Devices, which discloses a system for enabling a wirelesscomputing device to determine its position using a server with adatabase of identification and positional information about wirelessbeacons.

Yet another example is Alizadeh-Shabdiz, U.S. Pat. No. 8,606,294 for aMethod of and System for Estimating Temporal Demographics of MobileUsers, which discloses a method of estimating demographic informationassociated with a selected geographical area including, for at least oneindividual, determining a selected geographical area along a portion ofa track of travel of the individual and determining demographicinformation associated with the at least one individual.

General definitions for terms utilized in the pertinent art are setforth below.

APP is a software application for a mobile phone such as a smart phone.

Application Programming Interface (API) is a collection of computersoftware code, usually a set of class definitions, that can perform aset of related complex tasks, but has a limited set of controls that maybe manipulated by other software-code entities. The set of controls isdeliberately limited for the sake of clarity and ease of use, so thatprogrammers do not have to work with the detail contained within thegiven API itself.

Beacon is a management frame that contains all of the information abouta network. In a WLAN, Beacon frames are periodically transmitted toannounce the presence of the network.

BLUETOOTH technology is a standard short range radio link that operatesin the unlicensed 2.4 gigaHertz band.

Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) is a spread spectrumcommunication system used in second generation and third generationcellular networks, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a widely-implemented strategyfor managing a company's interactions with customers, clients and salesprospects. CRM involves using technology to organize, automate, andsynchronize business processes and the like—principally salesactivities, but also business processes and the like for marketing,customer service and technical support.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a standard networkprotocol defined by RFC 1541 that allows a server to dynamicallydistribute IP addressing and configuration information, such as thesubnet mask and the default gateway, to clients upon client requests.

Direct Inward Dialing (“DID”) involves a carrier providing one or moretrunk lines to a customer for connection to the customer's privatebranch exchange (“PBX”) and a range of telephone lines are allocated tothis line.

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a protocol for moving files over theInternet from one computer to another.

GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications is a second generationdigital cellular network.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) is a set of conventions forcontrolling the transfer of information via the Internet from a webserver computer to a client computer, and also from a client computer toa web server, and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (“HTTPS”) is acommunications protocol for secure communication via a network from aweb server computer to a client computer, and also from a clientcomputer to a web server by at a minimum verifying the authenticity of aweb site.

Internet is the worldwide, decentralized totality of server computersand data-transmission paths which can supply information to a connectedand browser-equipped client computer, and can receive and forwardinformation entered from the client computer.

Media Access Control (MAC) Address is a unique identifier assigned tothe network interface by the manufacturer.

Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) is a 24-bit number thatuniquely identifies a vendor, manufacturer, or organization on aworldwide basis. The OUI is used to help distinguish both physicaldevices and software, such as a network protocol, that belong to oneentity from those that belong to another.

Probe Request: A frame that contains the advertisement IE for a devicethat is seeking to establish a connection with a proximate device.

Probe Response: A frame that contains the advertisement IE for a device.The Probe Response is sent in response to a Probe Request.

SSID (Service Set Identifier) is a 1 to 32 byte string that uniquelynames a wireless local area network.

Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) is a protocol formoving files over the Internet.

URL or Uniform Resource Locator is an address on the World Wide Web.

User Interface or UI is the junction between a user and a computerprogram. An interface is a set of commands or menus through which a usercommunicates with a program. A command driven interface is one in whichthe user enter commands. A menu-driven interface is one in which theuser selects command choices from various menus displayed on the screen.

Wayfinding is defined as tracking an object within a pre-determinedspace.

Web-Browser is a complex software program, resident in a clientcomputer, that is capable of loading and displaying text and images andexhibiting behaviors as encoded in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) fromthe Internet, and also from the client computer's memory. Major browsersinclude MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, NETSCAPE, APPLE SAFARI, MOZILLAFIREFOX, and OPERA.

Web-Server is a computer able to simultaneously manage many Internetinformation-exchange processes at the same time. Normally, servercomputers are more powerful than client computers, and areadministratively and/or geographically centralized. An interactive-forminformation-collection process generally is controlled from a servercomputer, to which the sponsor of the process has access.

Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”) is an open, global specificationthat empowers users with mobile wireless communication devices (such asmobile phones) to easily access data and to interact with Websites overthe Internet through such mobile wireless communication device. WAPworks with most wireless communication networks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM,PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, reflex, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex andGRPS. WAP can be built on most operating systems including PalmOS,WINDOWS, CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, JavaOS and others.

WAP Push is defined as an encoded WAP content message delivered (pushed)to a mobile communication device which includes a link to a WAP address.

Wireless AP (access point) is a node on the wireless local area network(WLAN) that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network usingWi-Fi, or related standards.

There is a need for measuring the quantity, type and quality of mobilecommunication devices within a defined geographical area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system for measuring thequantity, type and transmission quality of mobile communication deviceswithin a defined geographical area.

One aspect of the present invention a system for measuring the quantity,type, transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue. The system includes a plurality ofsensor devices and data server. Each of the plurality of sensor devicescomprises a processor, a persistent storage, and one or moreradiofrequency radio receivers operating in the 2-6Ghz range. The dataserver comprises a processor, a database, at least one networkconnection, and at least one computer program configured to receive datauploads and store the data uploads in the database. Each of theplurality of sensor devices is configured to use one or more of theradiofrequency radio receivers to capture a plurality of WiFi protocolmanagement transmissions from a plurality of mobile devices within rangeof the defined geographic area. Each of the plurality of sensor devicesis configured to record to the persistent storage transmission datacomprising each of the plurality of WiFi protocol managementtransmissions, and record for each of the WiFi protocol managementtransmissions a radio identifier for the mobile device, a transmissionsignal strength, and a transmission time. Each of the plurality ofsensor devices periodically connects to the data server over a networkand uploads the recorded WiFi protocol management transmissions to thedata server. The data server is configured to receive the recordedtransmission data from each of the plurality of sensor devices andassociate the recorded transmission data with a corresponding sensordevice of the plurality of sensor devices. The data server is configuredto determine venue visit data of each of the plurality of mobilecommunication devices based on the recorded transmission data receivedfrom the plurality of sensor devices. An array of sensors positionedwithin the venue are utilized to determine the first fixed geographicallocation based on a statistical analysis of received signal strength ateach of first array of sensors.

Preferably, the venue visit data comprises a visit history for each ofthe plurality of mobile communication devices. Alternatively, the venuevisit data comprises a path through the venue for each visit by each ofthe plurality of mobile communication devices. Alternatively, the venuevisit data comprises the areas of the venue visited by each of theplurality of mobile communication devices. Alternatively, the venuevisit data comprises venue point data for each visit by each of theplurality of mobile communication devices.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for measuring thequantity, type, transmission quality and visit data of a plurality ofmobile communication devices within a defined geographical area. Themethod includes receiving at a plurality of sensor devices a pluralityof WiFi protocol management transmissions from a plurality of mobiledevices within range of the defined geographic area. The method alsoincludes recording to a persistent storage of sensor device of theplurality of sensor devices a radio identifier for the mobile device, atransmission signal strength, and a transmission time for each of theWiFi protocol management transmissions. The method also includesconnecting to a data server over a network and uploading the recordedWiFi protocol management transmissions to the data server. The methodalso includes receiving the recorded transmission data from each of theplurality of sensor devices at the data server and associating therecorded transmission data with a corresponding sensor device of theplurality of sensor devices. The method also includes determining at thedata server the number of devices, the vendor of each device, atransmission quality, and venue visit data of the plurality of mobilecommunication devices based on the recorded transmission data receivedfrom the plurality of sensor devices. An array of sensors positionedwithin the venue are utilized to determine the first fixed geographicallocation based on a statistical analysis of received signal strength ateach of first array of sensors.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a system for measuringthe quantity, type and transmission quality of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a defined geographical area. The systemincludes a plurality of sensor devices, each of the plurality of sensordevices comprising a processor, a memory, a persistent storage, one ormore radiofrequency radio receivers operating in the 2-6 GHz range, anoperating system, and at least one computer program. The system alsoincludes a data server comprising a processor, a memory, a SQL database,at least one network connection, at least one computer programconfigured to receive data uploads and store the data uploads in the SQLdatabase, and an API. The system further includes a console applicationcomprising a user interface and a charting function designed to createfiltered charting data. An array of sensors positioned within the venueare utilized to determine the first fixed geographical location based ona statistical analysis of received signal strength at each of firstarray of sensors.

Each of the plurality of sensor devices preferably is configured to useone or more of the radiofrequency radios to capture a plurality of Wi-Fiprotocol management transmissions from a plurality of mobile deviceswithin range of a defined geographic area. Each of the plurality ofsensor devices preferably is configured to record to the persistentstorage transmission data comprising each of the plurality of Wi-Fiprotocol management transmissions, and for each transmission a radioidentifier for the mobile device, a transmission signal strength, and atransmission time. Each of the plurality of sensor devices periodicallyconnects to the data server over a network and uploads new transmissiondata.

The system includes that the data server is configured to receive newtransmission data from each of the plurality of sensor devices andassociate the new transmission data with a corresponding sensor deviceof the plurality of sensor devices. The API of the data server isconfigured to grant access to one or more analysis and visualizationtools running in the console application.

The system further includes that the console application is configuredto organize the transmission data into display information based upon atleast one of date, mobile device type, and sensor device. The consoleapplication is also configured to display the display information to anend-user operator.

Preferably, each of the plurality of sensor devices periodicallyconnects to the data server over a Wi-Fi network or a cellular network.

Preferably, the user interface of the console application comprises aplurality of functions for selecting one or more of the plurality ofsensor devices.

Preferably, the defined geographical area is a venue, and the venuecomprises a WLAN comprising a plurality of wireless access points and aDHCP server in communication with the WLAN, the DHCP server configuredto associate an IP address with a MAC address of a mobile device.

One objective of the present invention is locating a wireless networkdevice in a physical space via statistical analysis of signal strengthsfrom an array fixed position sensors.

Another objective is to locate a wireless network device (typically802.11 WiFi, although the technique described is generally applicable)in an instrumented physical space.

The methodology is to deploy an array of sensors and use them toconstruct a statistical model of received signal strengths in the targetspace. The model is then used to find the physical location of a mobiledevice emitting in the instrumented area. The sensors preferably haveoverlapping areas of coverage but they do not need to be preciselypositioned in relation to each other or in orientation giving asignificant advantage in practicality over other methods.

The statistical model undergoes a training phase where the sensorsrecord received signal strengths. The model is then built fromtransmissions from the sensors themselves or from emissions from atarget device mapping the physical space. The model is made up ofhistograms recording the signal strengths of packets received by thesensors from a mobile device at the target location. These histogramsare then converted into probability distributions, and then furtherconverted into cumulative distribution vectors.

With the model trained, the sensors record the signal strengths receivedfrom an arbitrary target mobile device. A variety of non-parametricstatistical hypothesis tests are then used to determine the probabilitythat the recorded sample comes from the measured locations from theperspective of each sensor. The probability of each location from eachsensor is then combined to give an overall probability of the locationof the emitting device. While the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is a commonlyused non-parametric statistical test, better results have been achievedwith the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by thoseskilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description ofthe invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a system for measuring the quantity, typeand transmission quality of mobile communication devices within adefined geographical area.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of communication between components within asystem for measuring the quantity, type and transmission quality ofmobile communication devices within a defined geographical area.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of components of a preferred embodiment of adata server.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of a preferred embodiment of amobile communication device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of components of a preferred embodiment ofsensor device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the storage devices of a preferredembodiment of a sensor device.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of features of a console application of thesystem for measuring the quantity, type and transmission quality ofmobile communication devices within a defined geographical area.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a console application of the system formeasuring the quantity, type and transmission quality of mobilecommunication devices within a defined geographical area.

FIG. 8A is an illustration of a console application of the system formeasuring the quantity, type and transmission quality of mobilecommunication devices within a defined geographical area.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of a system for measuring the quantity,type and transmission quality of mobile communication devices within adefined geographical area.

FIG. 10A is an illustration of a screen of a console application of apatron at a gaming machine of a venue during a Monday along with theamount of time the patron stayed at the gaming machine.

FIG. 10B is an illustration of a screen of a console application of apatron at a gaming machine of a venue during a Thursday along with theamount of time the patron stayed at the gaming machine.

FIG. 10C is an illustration of a screen of a console application of apatron at a gaming machine of a venue during a subsequent Monday alongwith the amount of time the patron stayed at the gaming machine.

FIG. 11A illustrates an area (a slot machine) on a venue property wherea patron visits.

FIG. 11B illustrates an area (a bar) on a venue property where a patronvisits.

FIG. 11C illustrates an area (a blackjack table) on a venue propertywhere a patron visits.

FIG. 12 is a map of a venue illustrating a path taken by a patron of thevenue during a visit.

FIG. 13A is a block diagram illustrating a system for measuring thequantity, type, transmission quality and visit data (in the form ofvenue club point data) of mobile communication devices within a definedgeographical area.

FIG. 13B is a table of a venue point data for a patron of a venue.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a system for measuring the quantity, type,transmission quality of mobile communication devices within a definedgeographical area utilizing an arrayed of trained fixed position sensorswhich locate a mobile communication device via statistical analysis ofsignal strengths received at each of the sensors.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a system for measuring the quantity, type,transmission quality of mobile communication devices within a definedgeographical area utilizing an arrayed of trained fixed position sensorswhich locate a mobile communication device via statistical analysis ofsignal strengths received at each of the sensors.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a data server of a system for measuringthe quantity, type, transmission quality of mobile communication deviceswithin a defined geographical area in communication with a WAP whichreceives signal strength communications from sensors in order to locatea device within the defined geographical area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system 100 for measuring the quantity, type and transmission qualityof mobile communication devices within a defined geographical area isshown in FIG. 1. There are several mobile communication devices 25 a-25f within a defined geographical area. Also shown in the system 100, aresensor devices 30 a-30 c, a data server 40 including a SQL database 45,and a network, a wireless LAN 35.

The defined geographical area is preferably a venue 5, and the venue 5comprises a WLAN 35 including wireless access points 55 a-55 c and aDHCP server 50 in communication with the WLAN 35. The DHCP server 50 isconfigured to associate an IP address with a MAC address of a mobiledevice 25.

In infrastructure WLANs, wireless stations (devices with radio networkcards) connect to wireless access points that function as bridgesbetween the stations and the existing network backbone.

Mobile devices 25 a-25 f with Wi-Fi enabled periodically transmit proberequests to locate an access point, even when not associated to anetwork. A probe request includes the device's radio identifier (MACaddress), transmission signal strength (RSSI), and transmission time, asshown in FIG. 2. A probe request may or may not contain the SSID of awireless AP. From the probe request transmissions of all the mobiledevices within a specified area, the number of devices, the vendor ofeach device, and the transmission quality of each device can bedetermined.

The mobile communication devices 25 utilized with the present inventionpreferably include mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, PDAsand the like. Examples of smartphones and the device vendors include theIPHONE® smartphone from Apple, Inc., the DROID® smartphone from MotorolaMobility Inc., GALAXY S® smartphones from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.,and many more. Examples of tablet computing devices include the IPAD®tablet from Apple Inc., and the XOOM™ tablet from Motorola Mobility Inc.

A mobile communication service provider (aka phone carrier) of thecustomer such as VERIZON, AT&T, SPRINT, T-MOBILE, and the like mobilecommunication service providers, provide the communication network forcommunication to the mobile communication device of the end user.

Wireless standards include 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, AX.25, 3G, CDPD,CDMA, GSM, GPRS, radio, microwave, laser, Bluetooth, 802.15, 802.16, andIrDA.

A sensor device 30 is configured to use one or more of theradiofrequency radios to capture the WI-FI protocol managementtransmissions from the mobile devices within range of a definedgeographic area, such as within Room A or Room B within a venue 5, asshown in FIG. 1, or within the entire venue 5. Placement and position ofthe sensors will be determined by the sensor's maximum range and thenetwork configuration, the facility/building, and the applicationrequirements.

The sensor devices 30 a-30 c are configured to record the transmissionscaptured. The sensor devices 30 a-30 c periodically connects to the dataserver 40 over a network 35 and uploads new transmission data to thedata server 40. The data server is configured to receive newtransmission data from each of the sensor devices 30 a-30 c andassociate the new transmission data with a corresponding sensor device.

The sensor devices connect to the data server over a Wi-Fi network or acellular network.

FIG. 3 shows components of a general data server 40 of a system formeasuring the quantity, type and transmission quality of mobilecommunication devices within a defined geographical area. The dataserver 40 includes a CPU component 301, a graphics component 302,PCI/PCI Express 303, RAM memory 304, non-removable storage 307,removable storage 308, Network Interface 309, including one or moreconnections to a fixed network 35, and a SQL database 45 a-45 d.Included in the memory 304, is the operating system 305, the SQL server306, and computer programs 310. The data server 40 also includes atleast one computer program configured to receive data uploads and storethe data uploads in the SQL database. The SQL server 306 comprises ofother components of SQL server that can be installed separately from theSQL database engine.

Each of the interface descriptions preferably discloses use of at leastone communication protocol to establish handshaking or bi-directionalcommunications. These protocols preferably include but are not limitedto XML, HTTP, TCP/IP, Serial, UDP, FTP, Web Services, WAP, SMTP, SMPP,DTS, Stored Procedures, Import/Export, Global Positioning Triangulation,IM, SMS, MMS, GPRS and Flash. The databases used with the systempreferably include but are not limited to MSSQL, Access, MySQL,Progress, Oracle, DB2, Open Source DBs and others. Operating system usedwith the system preferably include Microsoft 2010, XP, Vista, 2000Server, 2003 Server, 2008 Server, Windows Mobile, Linux, Android, Unix,I series, AS 400 and Apple OS.

The underlying protocol at a server, is preferably Internet ProtocolSuite (Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”)), and thetransmission protocol to receive a file is preferably a file transferprotocol (“FTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Secure HypertextTransfer Protocol (“HTTPS”) or other similar protocols. The transmissionprotocol ranges from SIP to MGCP to FTP and beyond. The protocol at theserver is preferably HTTPS.

As shown in FIG. 4, a typical mobile communication device 25 includes anaccelerometer 401, a headphone jack 402, a microphone jack 403, aspeaker 404, a GPS chipset 405, a Bluetooth component 406, a Wi-Ficomponent 407, a 3G/4G component 408, a Baseband Processor (for radiocontrol) 409, an applications processor 410, a JTAG (debugger) 411, aSDRAM memory 412, a Flash memory 413, SIM card 414, LCD display 415, acamera 416, a power management circuit 417 and a battery or power source418.

FIG. 5 shows components of a general sensor device 30. The sensor device30 includes RF/analog component 501 (one or more RF radio receivers), aBaseband Processor 502, clock 503, storage devices, including RAM memory504 and persistent storage 505, CPU 506, power 507, and I/O 508. FIG. 6further shows the storage devices; RAM memory 504 and persistent storage505. The operating system 509 and the computer programs 510 reside inthe memory 504. The transmissions recorded by the sensor device 30 arestored in the persistent storage 505.

The system for measuring the quantity, type and transmission quality ofmobile communication devices within a defined geographical area alsoincludes a console application 65 comprising a user interface and acharting function designed to create filtered charting data, as shown inFIGS. 7-8A. The console application is configured to organize thetransmission data and to display the display information to an end-useroperator. The console application 65, used by the end-user operator, ispreferably on a smartphone 60 a, as shown in FIG. 8, or a desktop 60 b,as shown in FIG. 8A. However, the console application is not limited tothe output devices shown in FIGS. 8-8A. The user interface of theconsole includes functions for selecting one or more sensor devices. Thetransmission data can be displayed or sorted based upon the date, themobile device type, or sensor device, or any other such information. Thedata server 40 of the system includes an API, which is configured togrant access to one or more analysis and visualization tools running inthe console, as shown in FIG. 7.

A sequence diagram, sdMACIP, 600 is shown in FIG. 9. For an exampleshown, only one sensor device 30 and one mobile device 25 areillustrated, however, there may be more than one sensor and/or more thanone mobile device in a system of the present invention. The sensor 30uses its radiofrequency radio(s) to listen on the wireless network fordevices 25 scanning for wireless APs. As a mobile device 25 sends aprobe request, the sensor device 30 captures the transmission and savesthe information to memory. Any number of transmissions sent from otherdevices (shown as an outside source), such as ProbeRequestn, can becaptured and stored by the sensor device 30. The typical data capturedincludes the device 25 MAC address, the quality of the relative receivedsignal strength in the wireless LAN, and the time of input. The sensordevice 30 is configured to forward all the new transmission datacaptured to a connected data server 40 over a network. The data server40 is configured to receive new transmission data from each sensordevice and associate the new transmission data with the correspondingsensor device ID. The data server 40 writes the transmission informationand the corresponding sensor ID into the database 45.

The console application 65 runs one or more analysis and visualizationtools which is accessed by a user interface. With the charting function,a user can choose to design filtered charts and display the results.When a user (shown as an outside source) requests a report on theconsole application 65, the console application 65 first authenticatesthe application 65 to the SQL Database 45. There are various ways toauthenticate, such as user authentication instead of applicationauthentication. After successfully authenticating, the API grants theconsole application 65 access to the database 45 contents. The analysisand visualization tools of the console application 65 can then processthe data, such as sorting data by date, by manufacturer, or by sensor,creating a chart, or analyzing specific data. After processing the data,the console application 65 then displays the results, such as graphs,charts, or reports, to the user (shown as an outside source).

The radio receivers of each of the sensor devices 30 preferably operatein the 2-6 giga-Hertz range. BLUETOOTH™ technology operates in theunlicensed 2.4 GHz band of the radio-frequency spectrum, and in apreferred embodiment each sensor device 30 is capable of receiving andtransmitting signals using BLUETOOTH™ technology. LTE Frequency Bandsinclude 698-798 MHz (Band 12, 13, 14, 17); 791-960 MHz (Band 5, 6, 8,18, 19, 20); 1710-2170 MHz (Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 23, 25, 33, 34, 35,36, 37, 39); 1427-1660.5MH (Band 11, 21, 24); 2300-2700 MHz (Band 7, 38,40, 41); 3400-3800 MHz (Band 22, 42, 43), and in a preferred embodimenteach sensor device 30 is capable of receiving and transmitting signalsusing one or more of the LTE frequency bands. WiFi preferably operatesusing 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n communication formats as setfor the by the IEEE, and in in a preferred embodiment each sensor device30 is capable of receiving and transmitting signals using one or more ofthe 802.11 communication formats. The radio receivers are used by thesensor devices 30 to intercept probe requests from mobile communicationdevices 25 such as mobile phones or tablets that are present at a venue.The data obtained from the signals of the mobile communication devices25 are preferably stored in the memory 504 or persistent storage 505 ofeach sensor device 30. A computer program that runs on the sensor deviceis configured to store and then transfer the data.

The data is preferably transferred to the data server 40 using either acellular network (such as a mobile phone network, e.g., the VERIZON®network) or over the Internet using the WLAN of the venue. The dataserver 40 comprises at least one computer program to receive the datauploads and store the data uploads in a SQL database. An API of the dataserver 40 grants access to one or more analysis and visualization toolsrunning in a console application 65 that is on a computing device of anend user, typically the end user is associated with the venue. The venueis preferably a casino resort, a mall or a grocery store. Alternatively,the venue is an airport, a train station, a city center, an amusementpark, or a business campus. A venue includes a venue comprising multiplewireless APs.

The system preferably allows an operator to determine if a particulargeographic location of a venue provides an adequate WiFi connection to amobile communication device 25. Further, the system provides an end userrunning the console application 65 with quality information to determineif a geographic location is constantly below a threshold WiFi connectionstandard, or only temporarily below a threshold WiFi connection standardas established by the venue. Network throughput measures the amount ofdata successfully transmitted, between two locations in a data network,usually not including header, footer or routing information bits. It isgenerally measured in bits per second (bps). Maximum theoretical WiFIthroughput usually occurs between 150 Mbps to 450 Mbps. Datacommunication network analysis can include, but is not limited to,certain measurements: throughput, bandwidth, quality of service, droppedpacket rate, packet latency, round trip time, propagation delay,transmission delay, processing delay, queuing delay, network capacity,packet jitter, bit error rate, packet error rate, and frame error rate.

As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C, a system for measuring the quantity,type, transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue can determine a visit history forpatron including the amount of time spent during the visit and where onthe venue property the patron spent that time. The console applicationprovides the visit data to a venue operator to better allocate resourcesand determine the preferences of patrons. The console applicationillustrates a schedule 70 for a patron during visits to a venue by thepatron. The patron 15 plays slots 75 on a first Monday and a Thursday,but then plays blackjack 76 on a subsequent Monday.

As discussed above, the system 100 identifies a MAC address on themobile communication device 25 of the patron 15 of the venue 5. If thepatron 15 is a member of the rewards club program of the venue, then asdiscussed above, the system 100 matches the mobile communication device25 with the patron 15 and stores the patron's movement in a CRM database45 of the venue 5. Thus, the amount of time spent at a slot machine 75or a blackjack table 76 is stored in an account for the patron 15 in theCRM database 45 of the venue, even without the patron 15 swiping arewards club card at the slot machine 75 or blackjack table 76. Thesystem 100 determines from the probe requests of the mobilecommunication device 25 of the patron 15 that the patron 15 is at aparticularly area of the venue 5, and based on those probe requests, thesystem 100 determines how much time the patron 15 has spent at thatarea. This information is collected and stored in the CRM database 45 ofthe venue 5.

As shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C, a system for measuring the quantity,type, transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue can determine where on the venueproperty the patron spends time. The console application provides thevisit data to a venue operator to better allocate resources anddetermine the preferences of patrons. A map 10 of the venue is shown ona console application. A patron 15 plays slots 75, as shown in FIG. 11A,then has a drink at a bar 77, as shown in FIG. 11B, and plays blackjack80 as shown in FIG. 11C.

As discussed above, the system 100 identifies a MAC address on themobile communication device 25 of the patron 15 of the venue 5. If thepatron 15 is a member of the rewards club program of the venue, then asdiscussed above, the system 100 matches the mobile communication device25 with the patron 15 and stores the patron's movement in a CRM database45 of the venue 5. Thus, the amount of time spent at a slot machine 75,bar 77 or a blackjack table 76 is stored in an account for the patron 15in the CRM database 45 of the venue, even without the patron 15 swipinga rewards club card at the slot machine 75 or blackjack table 76. Thesystem 100 determines from the probe requests of the mobilecommunication device 25 of the patron 15 that the patron 15 is at aparticularly area of the venue 5, and based on those probe requests, thesystem 100 determines how much time the patron 15 has spent at thatarea. This information is collected and stored in the CRM database 45 ofthe venue 5.

As shown in FIG. 12, a system for measuring the quantity, type,transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue can determine a path that aparticular patron traveled during a visit to the venue property. A map10 of a venue 5 illustrates a path 85 of a patron 15 through the venue5. As discussed above, the system 100 identifies a MAC address on themobile communication device 25 of the patron 15 of the venue 5. If thepatron 15 is a member of the rewards club program of the venue, then asdiscussed above, the system 100 matches the mobile communication device25 with the patron 15 and stores the patron's movement in a CRM database45 of the venue 5. The system 100 determines from the probe requests ofthe mobile communication device 25 of the patron 15 the path of thepatron through the venue 5. Further, the system 100 may use sensors onthe mobile communication device 25 such as disclosed in Boyle, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/016,185, filed on Sep. 2, 2013, for aMethod And System For Wayfinding, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. This information is collected and stored inthe CRM database 45 of the venue 5

As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, a system for measuring the quantity,type, transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue can determine a patron's visit fromvenue point data accumulated in a rewards club program of the venue. Asthe patron 15 plays blackjack, venue points are accumulated by thepatron and recorded in the CRM database 45 of the venue. A table 90shows the point activity for the patron 15.

As discussed above, the system 100 identifies a MAC address on themobile communication device 25 of the patron 15 of the venue 5. If thepatron 15 is a member of the rewards club program of the venue, then asdiscussed above, the system 100 matches the mobile communication device25 with the patron 15 and stores the patron's movement in a CRM database45 of the venue 5. Thus, the amount of time spent at a blackjack table76 is stored in an account for the patron 15 in the CRM database 45 ofthe venue, even without the patron 15 swiping a rewards club card at theslot machine 75 or blackjack table 76. The system 100 determines fromthe probe requests of the mobile communication device 25 of the patron15 that the patron 15 is at a particularly area of the venue 5, andbased on those probe requests, the system 100 determines how much timethe patron 15 has spent at that area. Further, the point data for thepatron 15 is collected and stored in the CRM database 45 of the venue 5.

Thus, the visit history of the patron 15 to the venue 5 is available onthe console application to provide the operator of the venue 5 withadditional information of patrons of the venue.

An embodiment of the system 100 of the present invention is shown inFIG. 14. An array of sensor devices 20 a-20 h within a definedgeographical area or preferably, within a venue 5. The venue 5 comprisesa WLAN including wireless access point(s) 55, a server 40, and adatabase 45 in communication with the WLAN. Typically, a switch orrouter and a firewall connect the venue's 5 LAN to the outside (i.e.,INTERNET). The sensors 20 a-20 h have overlapping coverage, however,they do not need to be precisely positioned in relation to each other orin orientation, thus the system 100 has a significant advantage inpracticality over other systems.

FIG. 15 shows a user 15 and their mobile device 25 within a venue 5. Themobile device 25 periodically transmits probe requests to the closestsensors, 20 c-20 d. A probe request includes the device's radioidentifier (MAC address), transmission signal strength (RSSI), andtransmission time. The sensors 20 c-20 d record the signal strengthreceived and forwards the information to a server 40 through acontroller or a main access point 55. In order to locate the mobiledevice 25, the signal strengths will be analyzed using a statisticalmodel 120, as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 shows the components needed to locate a wireless network device25 in a physical space 5 via statistical analysis of signal strengthsfrom an array of fixed position sensors 20 a-20 c. An array of sensors20 a-20 c is deployed and the sensors 20 a-20 c are used to construct astatistical model of received signal strengths in the target space 5. Asshown in FIG. 14, the sensors need to have overlapping areas of coveragebut they do not need to be precisely positioned in relation to eachother. The received signal strengths that the sensors 20 a-20 c recordedare then forwarded for processing by a server 40, typically through acontroller or a main access point 55.

The statistical model 120 undergoes a training phase 125 where thesensors record received signal strengths 26. The model can be built fromtransmissions 26 from the sensors 20 themselves or from transmissionsfrom a target device 25 mapping the physical space 5. The model is madeup of histograms recording the signal strengths of packets received bythe sensors from a device at the target location. These histograms arethen converted into probability distributions, and then furtherconverted into cumulative distribution vectors, which are recorded intoa database 45.

With the model 120 trained, the sensors 20 a-20 c can record the signalstrengths received from an arbitrary target device 25. A variety ofnon-parametric statistical hypothesis tests, such as theKolmogorov-Smirnov test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, can then beused to determine the probability that the recorded sample comes fromthe measured locations from the perspective of each sensor 20 a-20 c.The probability of each location from each sensor can then be combinedto give an overall probability of the location of the emitting device25.

The present invention may be utilized with a marketing system such asdisclosed in Boyle et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/671,538,filed on Nov. 7, 2012, for a Method And System For Personalized VenueMarketing, which is hereby incorporated by reference its entirety. Thepresent invention may be utilized with a gaming system such as disclosedin Boyle, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/769,376, filed on Feb. 13,2013, for a System And Method For Managing Games In A Mobile VirtualCasino, which is hereby incorporated by reference its entirety. Thepresent invention may be utilized with a gaming system such as disclosedin Boyle, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/756,591, filed on Jan. 31,2013, for a System And Method For Virtual Currency In A Virtual Casino,which is hereby incorporated by reference its entirety. The presentinvention may be utilized with a gaming system such as disclosed inBoyle, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/789,686, filed on Mar. 8,2013, for a System And Method For Secure Play In A Mobile VirtualCasino, which is hereby incorporated by reference its entirety. Themethod and system of the present invention may be utilized with ananonymous loyalty program such as described in Boyle, U.S. Pat. No.8,463,645, for an Anonymous Rewards Club Program, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The method and system of thepresent invention may be utilized with the system described in Boyle etal., U.S. Pat. No. 8,693,403, for a Method And System For Detection AndCorrection of Wi-Fi Login Failure, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. The method and system of the presentinvention may be utilized with the system described in Greer et al.,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/775,226, filed on Feb. 24, 2013, foran Segmented Architecture Method And System, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The method and system of thepresent invention may be utilized with the system described in Boyle,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/844,585 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, fora Method And System For Freemium WiFi Service, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The method and system of thepresent invention may be utilized with the system described in Boyle,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/843,627 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, fora Method And System For Incentivizing On-Site Participation In Games AndOffers which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Themethod and system of the present invention may be utilized with thesystem described in Boyle, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/974,040filed on Aug. 22, 2013, for a Method And System For Including Content InA WiFi Stream, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety. The method and system of the present invention may be utilizedwith the system described in Boyle, U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,777, for aMethod And System For Providing Real-Time End-User WiFi Quality Data,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The methodand system of the present invention may be utilized with the systemdescribed in Boyle, U.S. Pat. No. 8,738,036, for a Method And System ForWayfinding At A Venue, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention andwill readily understand that while the present invention has beendescribed in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and otherembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changesmodification and substitutions of equivalents may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isintended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in thefollowing appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in thefollowing appended claims.

We claim as our invention:
 1. A system for measuring the quantity, type,transmission quality and visit data of a plurality of mobilecommunication devices within a venue, the system comprising: a pluralityof sensor devices, each of the plurality of sensor devices comprising aprocessor, a persistent storage, and one or more radiofrequency radioreceivers operating in the 2-6Ghz range; a data server comprising aprocessor, a database, at least one network connection, an applicationprogramming interface (API) and at least one computer program configuredto receive data uploads and store the data uploads in the database; anda console application comprising a user interface and a chartingfunction designed to create filtered charting data; wherein each of theplurality of sensor devices is configured to use one or more of theradiofrequency radio receivers to capture a plurality of WiFi protocolmanagement transmissions from a plurality of mobile devices within rangeof a defined geographic area of the venue, wherein each of the pluralityof sensor devices is configured to record to the persistent storagetransmission data comprising each of the plurality of WiFi protocolmanagement transmissions, and record for each of the WiFi protocolmanagement transmissions a radio identifier for the mobile device, atransmission signal strength, and a transmission time; wherein each ofthe plurality of sensor devices periodically connects to the data serverover a network and uploads the recorded WiFi protocol managementtransmissions to the data server; wherein the data server is configuredto receive the recorded transmission data from each of the plurality ofsensor devices and associate the recorded transmission data with acorresponding sensor device of the plurality of sensor devices; whereinthe API of the data server is configured to grant access to one or moreanalysis and visualization tools running in the console application;wherein the console application is configured to display the venue visitdata and quality information for a WiFi connection to an end-useroperator; wherein the plurality of sensor devices positioned within thevenue are utilized to determine a geographical location of a mobilecommunication device based on a statistical analysis of received signalstrength at each of plurality of sensor devices using a statisticalmodel of previously received signal strengths of overlapping coverage atthe plurality of sensor devices composed of histograms recording thesignal strengths of packets from a mobile device at a target locationreceived by the plurality of sensor devices, and wherein the histogramsare converted into probability distributions, wherein the probabilitydistributions are converted into distribution vectors.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of sensor devicesperiodically connects to the data server over a WiFi network or acellular network.
 3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the venuevisit data comprises a visit history for each of the plurality of mobilecommunication devices.
 4. The system according to claim 1 wherein thevenue visit data comprises a path through the venue for each visit byeach of the plurality of mobile communication devices.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the venue visit data comprises the areas ofthe venue visited by each of the plurality of mobile communicationdevices.
 6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the venue visit datacomprises venue point data for each visit by each of the plurality ofmobile communication devices.
 7. The system according to claim 1 whereinthe venue visit data comprises a venue point data for each visit by eachof the plurality of mobile communication devices, the areas of the venuevisited by each of the plurality of mobile communication devices, a paththrough the venue for each visit by each of the plurality of mobilecommunication devices, and a visit history of time spent at each area ofthe venue for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices. 8.A method for measuring the quantity, type and transmission quality of aplurality of mobile communication devices within a defined geographicalarea, the method comprising: receiving at a plurality of sensor devicesa plurality of WiFi protocol management transmissions from a pluralityof mobile devices within range of the defined geographic area; recordingto a persistent storage of sensor device of the plurality of sensordevices a radio identifier for the mobile device, a transmission signalstrength, and a transmission time for each of the WiFi protocolmanagement transmissions; connecting to a data server over a network anduploading the recorded WiFi protocol management transmissions to thedata server; receiving the recorded transmission data from each of theplurality of sensor devices at the data server and associating therecorded transmission data with a corresponding sensor device of theplurality of sensor devices; determining at the data server the numberof devices, the vendor of each device, a transmission quality, and venuevisit data of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on therecorded transmission data received from the plurality of sensordevices; granting access through an application programming interface(API) of the data server to one or more analysis and visualization toolsrunning in a console application; and displaying on the consoleapplication the venue visit data and quality information for a WiFiconnection to an end-user operator; wherein the plurality of sensordevices positioned within the venue are utilized to determine ageographical location of a mobile communication device based on astatistical analysis of received signal strength at each of plurality ofsensor devices using a statistical model of previously received signalstrengths of overlapping coverage at the plurality of sensor devicescomposed of histograms recording the signal strengths of packets from amobile device at a target location received by the plurality of sensordevices, and wherein the histograms are converted into probabilitydistributions, wherein the probability distributions are converted intodistribution vectors.
 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein thevenue visit data comprises a visit history for each of the plurality ofmobile communication devices.
 10. The method according to claim 8wherein the venue visit data comprises a path through the venue for eachvisit by each of the plurality of mobile communication devices.
 11. Themethod according to claim 8 wherein the venue visit data comprises theareas of the venue visited by each of the plurality of mobilecommunication devices.
 12. The method according to claim 8 wherein thevenue visit data comprises venue point data for each visit by each ofthe plurality of mobile communication devices.
 13. The method accordingto claim 8 further comprising organizing the transmission data at theconsole application into display information based upon at least one ofdate, mobile device type, and sensor device.
 14. The method according toclaim 8 wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices periodicallyconnects to the data server over a WiFi network or a cellular network.15. The method according to claim 8 wherein the venue visit datacomprises a venue point data for each visit by each of the plurality ofmobile communication devices, the areas of the venue visited by each ofthe plurality of mobile communication devices, a path through the venuefor each visit by each of the plurality of mobile communication devices,and a visit history of time spent at each area of the venue for each ofthe plurality of mobile communication devices.